Seahawks Press — 2026-07-25#

Top Takeaway#

Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Nick underwent ankle surgery for a lingering issue from the Super Bowl, though he playfully refused to rule him out for the season opener. Meanwhile, Macdonald emphasized that despite a high rate of returning champions, he considers this a completely “new team” with a blank slate.

Press Conferences & Interviews#

Mike Macdonald / Head Coach Macdonald kicked off training camp praising the team’s attention to detail on “non-negotiables,” emphasizing that the tone and style of play must be established by coaches on day one. He deflected contract and operational questions regarding Devon Witherspoon to John Schneider, though he noted the cornerback is “practicing his tail off” and expressed supreme confidence in the front office’s ongoing process. Macdonald was characteristically evasive on exact injury timetables—at one point laughing off a reporter’s angle to get a definitive answer—but was candid about roster deployment. He explicitly noted that with new faces like Noah in the secondary, the defense will let the competition dictate the scheme and doesn’t “have to live in the same personnel groups that we did last year”. Finally, he addressed the presence of Hard Knocks cameras at practice, telling his players to ignore the noise and simply “be us”.

Injury & Roster Updates#

Nick underwent surgery on his ankle to fix a lingering injury stemming from the Super Bowl; Macdonald wouldn’t commit to a timetable but hinted he could be ready for the opener. Zach Charbonnet is “kicking butt” in his rehab without a set return date, and was praised for being a quiet but highly impactful leader in the running back room. Kenny McIntosh remains in rehab for a severe injury sustained nearly a year ago and currently has no timetable for a return. Dante was held out of practice as a purely precautionary measure but is expected back tomorrow, while Tori Horton and AJ have made their way back to the field and are participating in individual return-to-play programs.

Reading Between the Lines#

Macdonald’s comments about the secondary not living in the “same personnel groups” as last year strongly signal upcoming schematic adjustments and open competition for defensive back snaps, meaning we could see heavy rotation early in camp. Furthermore, his insistence on branding a largely intact championship roster as a “new team” shows a deliberate psychological strategy from the coaching staff to prevent a Super Bowl hangover and force veterans to earn their jobs all over again.